Generating productive topsoil substitutes from hard rock overburden in the southern appalachians

Natural soils on steeply sloping landscapes in the Appalachian coal fields of Virginia. West Virginia. Kentucky, and Tennessee are often thin, rocky, acidic and infertile, making the topsoiling of surface mined sites impractical in many cases. Topsoil substitutes composed of blasted rock fragments are commonly used in this region. The proper selection and placement of designated topsoil substitutes is therefore critical to long term reclamation success. These mine soil surfaces are not in equilibrium and with the surface environment, and it is quite difficult to diferentiate among dissolution, adsorption, desorption and precipitation reactions as these surfaces weather with time. Severe compaction limits the productivity of many otherwise suitable topsoil substitutes. A minimum non-compacted thickness of 1 m is desirable to insure long run mine soil productivity for a variety of post-mining land uses. Significant changes in the physical, chemical, and mineralogical properties of mine soils occur within one year after placement. Mine soils high in silt content often form hard vesicular surface crusts, particularly when left unvegetated. The long term survival of plant communities on these mine soils is dependent upon mine soil organic matter accumulation and N and P cycling. Little is currently known about N and P dynamics in these mine soils, but P-fixation is a profound problem in high Fe^3- spoils. Revegetation practices that were designed to meet 2-year bond release requirements may not he sufficient to meet new 5-year release standards. Hard rock derived mine soils can often equal or exceed native topsoil in productivity and post mining land use potential.     

Generating productive topsoil substitutes from hard rock overburden in the southern appalachians

Natural soils on steeply sloping landscapes in the Appalachian coal fields of Virginia. West Virginia. Kentucky, and Tennessee are often thin, rocky, acidic and infertile, making the topsoiling of surface mined sites impractical in many cases. Topsoil substitutes composed of blasted rock fragments are commonly used in this region. The proper selection and placement of designated topsoil substitutes is therefore critical to long term reclamation success. These mine soil surfaces are not in equilibrium and with the surface environment, and it is quite difficult to diferentiate among dissolution, adsorption, desorption and precipitation reactions as these surfaces weather with time. Severe compaction limits the productivity of many otherwise suitable topsoil substitutes. A minimum non-compacted thickness of 1 m is desirable to insure long run mine soil productivity for a variety of post-mining land uses. Significant changes in the physical, chemical, and mineralogical properties of mine soils occur within one year after placement. Mine soils high in silt content often form hard vesicular surface crusts, particularly when left unvegetated. The long term survival of plant communities on these mine soils is dependent upon mine soil organic matter accumulation and N and P cycling. Little is currently known about N and P dynamics in these mine soils, but P-fixation is a profound problem in high Fe^3- spoils. Revegetation practices that were designed to meet 2-year bond release requirements may not he sufficient to meet new 5-year release standards. Hard rock derived mine soils can often equal or exceed native topsoil in productivity and post mining land use potential.     

Microbial relationships in surface-mine revegetation

The establishment and interrelationships of microorganisms with soil and plant processes during reclamation are greatly influenced by the composition of the planting medium and vegetation practices. While in some instances the parent material may be used as the vegetation medium, the practice of topsoiling, particularly the direct haul method, may be beneficial in introducing microorganisms and improving the quality of the plant growth medium of spoils that are chemically or physically less desirable than the native soils. The influence of different vegetation types on soil development on surface mines may be a reflection of physioiogical differences that affect microbial development in the rhizosphere. Such differences include levels of carbohydrate translocated to the root system and/or released into the surrounding soil; the plant's effectiveness as a mycorrhizal host; and the rate of degradation of plant residues. It has become apparent that microbial interactions are an important part of plant and soil processes in reclamation. While some of the microorganisms important in plant growth and soil development can be introduced readily by management practices, the majority usually are disseminated by natural means and only gradually become a part of the microbial population. More research is needed on developing new methods or refining current procedures for early introduction of these microorganisms in reclamation practices.     

Microbial relationships in surface-mine revegetation

The establishment and interrelationships of microorganisms with soil and plant processes during reclamation are greatly influenced by the composition of the planting medium and vegetation practices. While in some instances the parent material may be used as the vegetation medium, the practice of topsoiling, particularly the direct haul method, may be beneficial in introducing microorganisms and improving the quality of the plant growth medium of spoils that are chemically or physically less desirable than the native soils. The influence of different vegetation types on soil development on surface mines may be a reflection of physioiogical differences that affect microbial development in the rhizosphere. Such differences include levels of carbohydrate translocated to the root system and/or released into the surrounding soil; the plant's effectiveness as a mycorrhizal host; and the rate of degradation of plant residues. It has become apparent that microbial interactions are an important part of plant and soil processes in reclamation. While some of the microorganisms important in plant growth and soil development can be introduced readily by management practices, the majority usually are disseminated by natural means and only gradually become a part of the microbial population. More research is needed on developing new methods or refining current procedures for early introduction of these microorganisms in reclamation practices.     

草原沙化和人工固沙草地生态演替中昆虫群落多样性变化的数值分析

对宁夏沙坡头自然保护区不同沙化和人工固沙草地地段昆虫和植物群落特征参数、环境因子进行了调查．按不同营养层类群、栖息型类群和重要目分别进行了昆虫多样性变化规律的研究,应用主分量分析法和相关分析法,分析了草原沙化和人工固沙草地生态演替中昆虫不同类群多样性间以及多样性变化与植物、环境因子的关系．结果表明,昆虫多样性随草地沙化的加重而降低,以直翅目、膜翅目和食叶类群的下降率最大;随草地的恢复昆虫多样性趋于增加,以鳞翅目、同翅目、半翅目、脉翅目及捕食类群增长率为大．寄生类群和捕食类群多样性取决于植食类群多样性;杂食类群与地栖性类群成显著性相关．影响昆虫多样性变化的主要环境因子为植物种类、层次结构、盖度和表土层厚度、坚硬度等．     

污染场地土壤重金属空间异常值识别及其点源效应的分离

由点源污染导致的土壤重金属空间异常值的分布及点源效应的大小将影响场地风险评估和修复方案的制定,进而影响场地的环境管理.以某典型重金属污染场地为研究区域,以表层土壤Cd含量为研究对象,引入稳健变异函数模型,并筛选出合适的变异函数模型,结合平尾化方法对表层土壤Cd含量空间异常值进行识别和处理,并有效地分离出点源效应.研究表明：研究区表层土壤Cd含量空间变异大且存在明显的空间异常值;CressieHawkins稳健变异函数更适用于对研究区表层土壤Cd含量半方差函数的估计,采用稳健变异函数和平尾化方法能够有效地识别空间异常值和分离点源效应,空间异常值主要分布在受人为活动影响较大的区块;由于准点过程导致的变异较大,分离出的点源效应解释了异常值点位表层土壤Cd含量的大部分.     

Vertical distribution and environmental significance of PAHs in soil profiles in Beijing,China

Vertical distribution of both the concentration and composition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in ten profiles in Beijing has been investigated. The results showed that PAH concentrations and compositions in topsoil from different sampling sites were different. PAH concentrations were much higher in topsoil of the investigated urban area, industrial region, and paddy field with wastewater irrigation than in other areas. Moreover, PAH concentrations in topsoil were much higher than those at greater depth, where the concentrations were relatively consistent in most soil profiles. The fingerprints of PAHs in the samples from topsoil (0–30 cm) in the same profiles were similar and were obviously different from those at greater depth, suggesting that PAH sources were consistent in topsoil samples and were discriminating between topsoil and deeper soils. PAHs in topsoil mainly arose from mixed sources of combustion of liquid fuel, coal, and/or wood, as well as wastewater irrigation, while those at greater depth were derived from soil genesis and the process of soil formation.     

Management of basiphilous dune slack communities in relation to carbonate accumulation and hydrological conditions

In dune slacks in The Netherlands, a decline of rare mesotrophic basiphilous plant species and their plant communities has been observed in combination with an increase of more productive systems with common, taller acidophilous plant species. This has been attributed to both natural and anthropogenic changes. In a humid climate with a precipitation surplus, as in The Netherlands, the calcium carbonate content of a calcareous soil increases with depth. However, soils in coastal dune slacks, may have a higher carbonate content in the topsoil horizon than in the underlying layers. Carbonates which buffer the pH can prolong the presence of mesotrophic basiphilous plant communities which are of high conservation value. To explain the occurrence of calcareous surface horizons in dune slacks, hydrological and micromorphological analyses were carried out in three dune slacks. Two slacks are situated on the Wadden Sea islands in the northern part of The Netherlands; one on Schiermonnikoog and one on Texel. The third slack is situated in the dunes on the island of Goeree in the southwestern part of The Netherlands. In all three slacks, carbonate occurs as mollusc and gastropod fragments (silt- or sand-sized) and as micritic nodules in the topsoil layer, due to aeolian deposition and sedimentation by water.In situ carbonate accumulation (calcitans and calcareous crusts) due to CO₂ release in inundated and/or capillary rise of calcareous groundwater near, or at the soil surface. Accumulation of carbonate also occurs as a result of biological activity by algae in the topsoil of the Goeree site. In general, hydrological processes maintaining high levels of calcareous groundwater are a prerequisite for the maintenance of high carbonate levels in topsoils. Such levels are necessary for the conservation and management of basiphilous pioneer vegetation.     

Efficient and sustainable management of complex forest ecosystems

A large range of models has been developed for the analysis of optimal forest management strategies, with the well-known Faustmann models dating back to the mid-19th century. To date, however, there has been relatively little attention for the implications of complex ecosystem dynamics for optimal forest management. This paper examines the implications of irreversible ecosystem responses for efficient and sustainable forest management. The paper is built around two forest models that comprise two ecosystem components, forest cover and topsoil, the interactions between these components, and the supply of the ecosystem services ‘wood’ and ‘erosion control’. The first model represents a forest that responds in a reversible way to overharvesting. In the second model, an additional ecological process has been included and the ecosystem irreversibly collapses below certain thresholds in forest cover and topsoil depth. The paper presents a general model, and demonstrates the implications of pursuing efficient as well as sustainable forest management for the two forest ecosystems. Both fixed and variable harvesting cycles are examined. Efficient and sustainable harvesting cycles are compared, and it is shown that irreversible ecosystem behaviour reduces the possibilities to reconcile efficient and sustainable forest management through a variable harvesting cycle.     

Environmental fate of pesticides used in Australian viticulture V. Behaviour of atrazine in the soils of the south Australian Riverland

The transport of the s‐triazine herbicide, atrazine, through the red, calcareous earth soils of the South Australian Riverland was investigated. Small, undisturbed soil cores were extracted from the inter‐row topsoil of a vineyard adjacent to the River Murray, approximately 10 km south‐west of Overland Corner, South Australia. The vines were grown in a deep (1–4 m) reddish brown, strongly alkaline, sandy loam with a low organic carbon content (<2%). Atrazine concentrations in the leachate were dependent on application rate and soil type. High application rates on subsoil gave high rates of leaching for a longer time compared to the same application rate on topsoil and/or lower application rates on either topsoil or subsoil. Overall, 37–65% of the applied atrazine was detected in the leachate from subsoil cores, 14–25% in topsoil core leachates. Small amounts of atrazine (< 10% of applied dose) were found only in the top 2 cm of the core profiles. The results suggest that this herbicide is somewhat mobile in such strongly alkaline, sandy loam soils and that the irrigated soils of this region are likely to be prone to leaching of atrazine, and therefore that groundwater supplies in this area may be at risk of contamination through use of triazine herbicides.     

Identification and mapping of heavy metal pollution in soils of a sports ground in Galway City,Ireland, using a portable XRF analyser and GIS

Heavy metals in urban soils continue to attract attention because of their potential long-term effects on human health. During a previous investigation of urban soils in Galway City, Ireland, a pollution hotspot of Pb, Cu, Zn and As was identified in the sports ground of South Park in the Claddagh. The sports ground was formerly a rubbish dumping site for both municipal and industrial wastes. In the present study, a portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) analyser was used to obtain rapid in-situ elemental analyses of the topsoil (depth: about 5–10 cm) at 200 locations on a 20 × 20-m grid in South Park. Extremely high values of the pollutants were found, with maximum values of Pb, Zn, Cu and As of 10,297, 24,716, 2224 and 744 mg/kg soil, respectively. High values occur particularly where the topsoil cover is thin, whereas lower values were found in areas where imported topsoil covers the polluted substrate. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques were applied to the dataset to create elemental spatial distribution maps, three-dimensional images and interpretive hazard maps of the pollutants in the study area. Immediate action to remediate the contaminated topsoil is recommended to safeguard the health of children who play at the sports ground.     

Topsoil inversion as a restoration measure in sand dunes,early results from a UK field-trial

Over-stabilisation and eutrophication affect many dune systems in north-west Europe. This leads to lower diversity of typical dune species and an accumulation of soil nutrients. Existing management techniques to remove excess nutrients include mowing, with removal of cuttings, and turf stripping. A new restoration technique called topsoil inversion or deep ploughing may also be able to counter some of the negative effects of eutrophication. It simulates the burial of established soils with fresh mineral sand, by inverting the soil profile. A trial was carried out on two small blocks of eutrophic dune grassland in North Wales, UK. Nutrient-rich surface soils were buried beneath mineral sub-sand using a double-bladed plough, designed to plough to depths of up to 100 cm. Results show that the organic soil horizons were buried to a depth of 80 cm, and covered with 40–50 cm of mineral sand. The pH and organic matter of the surface layers became comparable to those of mobile dunes. Fifteen months after ploughing, bare sand cover was still 70–90%, but significant sand loss through wind erosion resulted in a thinning of the mineral sand over-burden, leaving the buried organic layer closer to the surface. Natural vegetation colonisation was slow, with the first surviving plants observed after 8 months. The majority of species present at 15 months were present before ploughing and had regenerated from rhizomes or root fragments. The effect of excluding disturbance caused by rabbits, people and dogs was assessed within fenced areas. After 11 months, vegetation cover was greater in the fenced areas than in plots exposed to disturbance, therefore disturbance replaced physical conditions as the dominant influence on plant growth and establishment. These early results suggest the trial has been partially successful, but that topsoil inversion could be combined with other methods such as turf stripping or by stabilisation of the ploughed surface by planting with pioneer species, depending on the ultimate restoration goal.     

北京地区表层土壤中多环芳烃的分布特征及污染源分析

根据北京地区不同环境功能区62个样品的分析结果,讨论了研究区表层土壤中多环芳烃的分布特征及污染源类型。结果表明：（1）研究区表层土壤中检测到的多环芳烃主要包括萘、苊、菲、惹烯、三芴、荧蒽、芘、、苯并蒽、苯并[b]荧蒽、苯并[k]荧蒽、苯并[e]芘、苯并[a]芘、苝、二苯并[a,h]蒽、茚并[1,2,3–cd]芘、苯并[g,h,i]苝及其同系物;（2）不同环境功能区表层土壤中多环芳烃的组成及质量分数均存在一定的差别,16种优先控制的多环芳烃质量分数为175.1~10 344 ng.g-1,其中城市中心区表层土壤中多环芳烃的质量分数最高,交通干线附近、工矿企业附近表层土壤中PAHs的质量分数较高,林地、果园和农田表层土壤中PAHs的质量分数较低;（3）表层土壤中PAHs既有来源于石油源,也有来源于化石燃料燃烧产物的,但不同功能区二者贡献存在差别,其中农业用地（林地、果园、农田）中PAHs主要来源于石油源（或部分来源于土壤母岩中的有机质）,城区、交通干线附近及工矿企业附近表层土壤中PAHs污染源以化石燃料燃烧产物输入为主。     

Reclamation of bentonite mined lands in the northern great plains

Ninety percent of the nation's supply of bentonite is mined in Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming. These lands are difficult to reclaim because of the chemical and physical properties of the soil/spoil material and the arid/semiarid climate of the area. Replacement of the limited topsoil available has shown some benefit but supplies are generally inadequate. The use of inorganic amendments, such as sulfuric acid, gypsum, calcium chloride, vermiculite and perlite, have not shown consistent benefits in plant establishment and growth. Organic amendments; sawmill wood residues, straw and manure, have provided the greatest benefits in the reclamation of bentonite mined lands. Cultural and management practices are important in determining the long-term success of these reclaimed lands. Reclamation technology development for bentonite mined lands is recent and limited and the refinement and application of such technology will depend on increased activity and cooperation among researchers, regulators and the mining industry.     

焦化厂多环芳烃污染场地的环境评价实证研究

通过实地调查某焦化厂污染场地污染现状,结果表明：该场地土壤和地下水以多环芳烃（PAHs）有机类污染为主,土壤中苯并（仅）芘和多环芳烃污染以1．5m以内表层土污染为主,随着深度的增加浓度逐渐降低,弱透水层表现出良好的阻隔作用。沿着地下水流动方向,地下水中多环芳烃浓度逐渐降低,经过约400m的迁移,由17296μg／L降至111μg/L;苯并（α）芘经过200m的迁移,由18．3μg／L降至0,地下水流动导致污染物在包气带横向扩散。1号孔、3号孔和4号孔所在地表层土壤中苯并（α）芘的单个污染物的致癌风险分别为0．0278、0．0209和1．496,远远超出可接受水平,因此上述孔位所在地附近表层土壤需重点治理。     

东北过伐林灌木层物种多样性与林分因子的典型相关分析

研究林分特征尤其是经营上可以控制的因子对生物多样性的影响，将有助于制定合理的经营措施来维持和保护生物多样性，本文作者以我国东北过伐林区3种典型天然林类型为对象，采用典型相关分析方法，研究影响灌木层物种多样性的主要因子。结果表明：影响灌木层物种多样性的主要因子包括土壤含水率，树种多样性和林分密度；灌木层多样性组的变异被林分组第一典型变量解释的比例为68.32%,仍有31.68%的变异不能得到解释。     

Reclamation of bentonite mined lands in the northern great plains

Ninety percent of the nation's supply of bentonite is mined in Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming. These lands are difficult to reclaim because of the chemical and physical properties of the soil/spoil material and the arid/semiarid climate of the area. Replacement of the limited topsoil available has shown some benefit but supplies are generally inadequate. The use of inorganic amendments, such as sulfuric acid, gypsum, calcium chloride, vermiculite and perlite, have not shown consistent benefits in plant establishment and growth. Organic amendments; sawmill wood residues, straw and manure, have provided the greatest benefits in the reclamation of bentonite mined lands. Cultural and management practices are important in determining the long-term success of these reclaimed lands. Reclamation technology development for bentonite mined lands is recent and limited and the refinement and application of such technology will depend on increased activity and cooperation among researchers, regulators and the mining industry.     

Conservation practitioners’ understanding of how to manage evolutionary processes

Both academics and practitioners consider a lack of knowledge about evolutionary theory to be a general barrier to effectively managing genetic diversity. However, it is challenging to judge practitioners’ level of understanding and how this influences their management decisions. Knowledge built through experience may be difficult for practitioners to articulate, but could nonetheless result in appropriate management strategies. To date, researchers have assessed only the explicit (formal) knowledge practitioners have of evolutionary concepts. To explore practitioners’ understanding of evolutionary concepts, it is necessary to consider how they might apply explicit and implicit knowledge to their management decisions. Using an online survey, we asked Australian practitioners to respond to 2 common management scenarios in which there is strong evidence that managing genetic diversity can improve outcomes: managing small, isolated populations and sourcing seeds for restoration projects. In describing their approach to these scenarios, practitioners demonstrated a stronger understanding of the effective management of genetic diversity than the definitions of the relevant concepts. However, their management of genetic diversity within small populations was closer to best practice than for restoration projects. Moreover, the risks practitioners described in implementing best practice management were more likely to affect their approach to restoration than translocation projects. These findings provide evidence that strategies to build the capacity of practitioners to manage genetic diversity should focus on realistic management scenarios. Given that practitioners recognize the importance of adapting their practices and the strong evidence for the benefits of actively managing genetic diversity, there is hope that better engagement by evolutionary biologists with practitioners could facilitate significant shifts toward evolutionarily enlightened management.     

北京地区表层土中饱和烃组成特征及成因分析

根据北京地区不同环境功能区62个样品检测结果,分析了研究区表层土壤中饱和烃类化合物的化学组成及其分布特征,并对其来源进行了讨论。结果表明：（1）北京地区表层土壤中分布有多种类型的烃类污染物,已检测到的饱和烃化合物主要包括正构烷烃、无环类异戊间二烯烷烃、单甲基取代支链烷烃（异构与反异构烷烃）、烷基环己烷和甾、萜烷类等系列化合物中的数百种单体化合物;（2）不同环境功能区,同一地区土地使用情况不同或周围环境不同的土壤样品中饱和烃的质量分数和组成特征均存在较大的差别,其中正构烷烃的质量分数为0.25~4.72μg.g-1;（3）随着距离城中心的距离减小,表土中饱和烃质量分数增高,南部地区饱和烃的质量分数高于北部地区;（4）表层土壤中饱和烃的来源比较复杂,主要来自于化石燃料及木材的不完全燃烧产物,部分地区有少量矿物油及其衍生物的输入。     

Die Bedeutung des organischen Kohlenstoffs im Unterboden

The organic carbon distribution among holorganic, topsoil, and subsoil horizons was determined for a series of 103 forest soils. The results show that only 25% and 36% of total organic carbon are stored within holorganic layers and topsoil, respectively. Subsoil was found to be the most significant compartment representing 39% of the carbon pool. This kind of distribution emphasizes the great importance of future research on structure and stability of subsoil organic carbon.